Dispensing apparatus



Dec. 8, 1925 1,564,799 7 R. A. THORNTON DISPENSING APPARATUS FiledSeptl5. 1924 Fig.1

4a lnvenTor.

Roy A. Thor rflon Patented Dec; 8, 19Z5.'

UNITED STATES.

ROY A. THORNTON, OF NORTH WEYMOUTH, IIASSACHUSETTSL DISPENSINGAPPARATUS.

Application filed September 13, 1924. Serial No. 737,551.

To all whom, itmay concern:

Be it known that I, ROY A. THORNTO a citizen of the United States,residing at North lVeymouth county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts,have .invented an Improvement in Dispensing Apparatus of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus which is speciallydesigned for dispensing semi-solid material such for instance as geargrease that is used in the lubrication of automobiles and-othermachinery.

The device comprises a container for containing the material to bedispensed. a delivery pipe through which the material is delivered, apump or feed mechanism by which the material is forced through thedelivery pipe and means for maintaining at all times a quantity of thenon-fluid semi-solid material at the pump inlet so that the pump will atall times be operative.

In the dispensing of semi-solid material which will not flow it is, ofcourse, important that the material should be constantly fed to-thoinlet of the pump or other forcing mechanism for if this is not done thepump will feed the material directlyadjacent the inlet and will thensimply run idle or possibly suck air.

My invention provides means, preferably associated with the pump, whichoperates to feed the material to the pump inlet and to maintain thesupply at this point so that the pump will at all times functionproperly.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated inthe drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be describedafter which the novel features will .be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying myinvention:

Fig. 2 is a section on the line'22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lower end of the device takenat right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. at is a section through the pump on substantially the line 44, Fig.1.

1 indicates a container adapted to contain gear grease or othersemi-solid material. This container is shown as mounted on wheels 2 sothat it can be readily moved from place to place, this being aconvenient tion where the grease is to be delivered.

Thisnozzle 4 is shown as being controlled by a valve or stop cock 5,

Situated within the container is a forcing device adapted to force thematerial through the delivery pipe. This forcing dc vice is hereinillustrated as in the form of a gear pump, althoughany desirable forcingdevice may be used.

This gear pump is of the. ordinary type and comprises a casing 6 havingan inlet 7 and an outlet 8 which is connected to the delivery pipe 3 bymeans of a. pipe connection 9. Situated within the casing areintermeshing elements 10 and 11. During the rotation of the gearelements in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 4-the spacebetween the teeth becomes filled with the material and is carried aroundfrom the inlet port to the delivery port whence it is forced through thedelivery pipe 3 all as usual in pumps of this character.

One of the gear elements (the gear element 11 in this construction) isfast on a drive shaft 12 which extends vertically through the containerto the upper side thereof and the upper end of which is journalled in aspider or support 13. For-operating the shaft 12 I have shown a crankshaft 14, which is also geared to the shaft 12 by bevelled gears 15.said crank shaft having a crank handle 16 thereon by which it may beturned. The crank shaft 14- is shown as journalled in bearings 1.?carried by the bracket or support 13.

In dispensing semi-solid material. such as gear grease. it is necessaryto provide means for maintaining a supply of the material at the pumpinlet 7 because otherwise thepump would operate until the material inthe im-- mediate vicinity of the inlet 7 was delivered and then wouldeither become bound or would simply suck air.

In order to keep a supply of this semisolid material at the pump inlet Ihave pro vided'herein means associated with the pump which stirs oragitates the 'material in thel. general vicinity of the inlet port andin such 2. 'In a device of the class a way. as to maintain a supply atthe pump. In the construction herein shown this is done by means of ablade 18"which is fast on the shaft and is situated directly above thepump casing. The blade is inclined as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so that asit'is rotated through the mass of material it tends to force the: latterdownwardly. Situated adjacent the inlet 7iis a stationary inclinedwardly to the pump inlet 7 The cooperation of these-,two blades orplates 18 and 19' serves to maintain a proper supply or quantity of thesemi-solid material at the pump inlet so that the latter will functionproperly and will not 'become'bound.

' When'the material being dispensed is in the nature of gear grease theblade 18 has the further effect of softening and increasing the fluidityof the material. It is well ,lmown that when grease, such as gear greaseor cup grease, is stirred its fluid qualities are increased and theblade 18 thus not only helps to feed the material tothe pump inlet 7but-also renders the material adjacent the pump more'fluid so that thefeeding operation is facilitated.

WVhile I have, illustrated herein a selected embodiment of my inventionI do not wish to be li'mited shown. I

I claim: I I v r) 1. In a dispensing apparatus for dis' pensingsemi-solid material, the combina-' tion' with a container, of a.delivery pipe through which the material is dispensed, a gear pump inthecontainer for feeding ma-v terial to the delivery pipe, said pump havingan inlet adjacent the bottom of the container, a deflector plate securedto the bottom adjacent said inlet, and a rotatable blade movable in aplane immediately above the. deflector plate, said rotatable bladehavingits front face inclined in a direction to force material downwardlytoward the deflector plate, and the deflector plate being inclined tothe constructional features in the opposite direction and functioningwith the movable blade to maintain a supply ,of material at the pumpinlet.

described, the combination with a container, of a delivery pipe leadingtherefrom, a gear pump in the container for feeding material to thedelivery pipe, a shaft for operating the gear pump, said. pump having aninlet adjacent the bottom of the container, a blade mounted on saidshaft and rotating in a plane directly above the inlet, and a stationarydeflector plate secured to the bottom of the container adjacent saidinlet, and inclining upwardly from the bottom in a direction oppositeto.

that in which the blade is moving as it passes over said plate, saidblade and plate functioning to inaintain a supply of material at thepump inlet.

. 3. In a device of the'class described, the

combination with'a container, of a'delivery pipe leading therefrom, agear pump in the container for feeding material to the delivery pipe,said pump haying an inlet, a deflector plate stationarily supportedadjacent said inlet and a movable blade co-operating 1 with said plateto maintain a supply-of material at the pump inlet.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a container, of a delivery ery pipe, said pump havingan inlet, a shaft Q by which the pump is operated, a deflector platestationarily .mounted adjacent the pump inlet, and a blade fast on saidshaft and co-operating with said deflector plate" to maintain a supplyof material at the pump inlet. 1

5. In a device'ofthe class described, the combination with'a container,of a delivery pipe leading therefrom, a gear pump in thecontainer forfeeding material to the delivery pipe, said pump having an inletadjacent the bottom of the container, a blade movable in a planedirectly above the inlet anda stationarily mounted deflector plateat theside of the inlet, saiddeflector plate inclining upwardly from thebottom of the container in a direction opposite to that in which theblade moves, whereby'a supply of 1 material is maintainedat the inlet.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' nova. THORNTON.

